Locals ecstatic as Indian JV wins contract for Jharkhand-Bihar bridge

The NHAI has awarded a Rs 1,900 crore contract to an Indian join venture for the construction of a road link between Jharkhand and Bihar which includes the ambitious Sahibganj-Manihari bridge. The foundation of the project was laid by PM Modi back in 2017, but the work remained pending because the previous contract with a Chinese company was cancelled.

Sahibganj (Jharkhand): With an Indian joint venture of Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) and Dilip Buildcon Ltd (DBL) being awarded a Rs 1,900 crore contract by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for design and construction of a 22 kilometre road linking Jharkhand and Bihar, locals expressed happiness that their dream will soon become a reality.

According to reports, the project includes construction of a new link NH-133B from Sahibganj Bypass in Jharkhand, including the Ganga Bridge stretch and Manihari Bypass, and widening of NH-131A stretch.

The ambitious four-lane bridge will connect Sahibganj in Jharkhand to Manihari in Bihar.

Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation of the project way back in April, 2017, the construction hit a roadblock as the tender was given to a joint venture of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and India's Soma engineering.

According to reports, the Chinese company was blacklisted by India following the Doklam stand-off.

"It is a matter of pride for the people of Sahibganj. The contract was initially given to a joint venture with a Chinese company, which was later blacklisted following the Doklam stand-off," said Ramanand Shah, the deputy chairman of the Sahibganj Nagarparishad.

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"I have full confidence that construction work will begin very soon. I would like to express my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari," said Anant Ojha, the BJP MLA from Rajmahal.

The locals also expressed their happiness that work on the long-pending project will finally start, and that it will be Indian companies who will be constructing the bridge.

"I am extremely happy that Indian companies have been awarded the tender. The construction was delayed because of the tender being cancelled. This also comes as a bg blow to China, said Arvind Gupta, the secretary of the Gangapul Nirman Sangharsh Samiti.

Meanwhile, Amit Singh, a local leader said that this is the first step towards achieving PM Modi's goal of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat.'

However, a few locals said that they would be satisfied only once the construction formally starts.

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"The tenders have got cancelled so many times in the past, that people have almost given up hope. We will only be happy once construction begins," said Vinod Yadav, a local.

The bridge, which has been a long-standing demand for close to 50 years, will connect the town to the rest of North India, and also towards the eastern region. Locals also hope that the construction of the bridge opens up employment opportunities.

While land has already been acquired on both sides, the 22-kilometre-long road including the bridge, is expected to be built in four years.